Lap-link.



P. H. DE 'ROCHEMONT.

LAP LINK. APPLICATION rum) MAY 16, 1901.

Paiinted May 24, 1910.

I awuewto'c lmitnmoep HERS. WASNINGTON. D. c.

omen STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERKINS H. DE ROCHEMONT, OF CHAT'IANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF T0 CHARLES TOPPINO, JR., 015 NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

LAP-LINK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERKINS H. DE RooHnMoN'r, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State ofTennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lap-Links, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lap-links, the object of the invention beingto provide a link of this character of simple construction comprisingcooperating link members corresponding in form, and so constructed andrelatively mounted as to permit one to fold within the other, thusproviding a device of this character which will possess maximum strengthand will effectually prevent a chain-link or other connection frombecoming accidentally detached therefrom.

The invention consists of a lap-link embodying the features ofconstruction hereinafter fully described and is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of thelink, with its closure member turned to open position. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the link with its closure member swung within the mainmember to closed position.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals l and 2 designate two link-shapedmembers corresponding in general construction, the member 2, however,being of relatively smaller size than the member 1 to swing or foldsnugly therein, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The member 1 is formed in oneside with a slot 3 located closer to one of its ends than to itsopposite end, whileits opposite side 4 is intact. The member 3 issimilarly constructed, one of its sides being provided with a slot 5,while its other side 6 is intact, each member thus comprising a splitlink. The inner face of the member 1 and. outer face of the member 2 areflattened, or otherwise suitably shaped, so that the member 2 may beswung closed to lie snugly within the member 1.

The long arm of the slotted side of the member 2 is pivotally connectedwith the intact side of the member 1 by a bolt, rivet or other suitablepivotal connection 7, so that said member 2 may be swung outwardly atright angles to the member 1 and swung inwardly to lie wholly withinsaid member 1, as indicated, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 2. The pivotalconnection 7 is arranged below Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 16, 1907.

Patented May 24, 1910. Serial No. 374,048.

or in line with the slot 3, while the slot 5 is arranged to be out ofalinement with the slot 3, when the members are in closed position.

The slot 3 is wider than the member 2 to permit the link of a chain orother con nection applied to said member 2 to be slipped over one of theparts of the slotted side of the member 1, as will be readilyunderstood, so that when the member 2 is closed the chain-link will lieagainst one of the curved ends of the same and project beyond theadjacent ends of the member 1.

In applying a link the same is inserted through the slot 5 and slippedover the short arm of the slotted side of the member 2, then broughtover the intact side 6 thereof and finally slipped into engagement withone of the arms of the slotted side of the member 1 as the member 2 isswung closed. Upon the closing of the member 2 such member will liewholly within the plane of the member 1, and the link will serve to holdboth members connected and prevent any possibility of accidental openingof the member 2 in the use of the link. The mode of dis connecting thechain-link from the lap-link will be readily understood.

It will be observed that by providing the members 1 and 2 respectivelywith inner and outer flattened faces, the member 2 is adapted to swingopen on either side of the memher 1, since there are no interferingprojections to prevent such movements, which afford great convenience indilferent situations in which the link is used in the application andremoval of a draft chain or other connection. It will also be observedthat by pivoting the member 2 by the long arm of its slot-ted side tothe intact side of the member 1 in line with the slot 3 of the latter,the member 2 is adapted to swing laterally from either side of themember 1 in a plane or direction lbngitudinally of the latter, by whichmeans the member 2 may be swung outwardly to an increased extent for amore free application and removal of a chain or like connection.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

A link of the class described composed wholly of strap metal ofplano-convex shape in cross section and consisting of two members ofoblong shape adapted to fit and fold one within the other, the outermember having the plane surface at the inner contour and the convexsurface at the outer periphery thereof while the inner member has theplane surface at its outer periphery and the convex surface upon theinner side, whereby the plane surfaces lie in contact with each otherwhen the link as a whole is closed, the outer member being provided withan entrance throat to one side of the minor axis thereof and the lnnermember being provided with an entrance throat at the opposite side ofthe minor axis thereof

